The British horseracing industry has mobilised in a significant fightback against a government proposal to overhaul gambling taxation, a move leaders have
The British horseracing industry has mobilised in a significant fightback against a government proposal to overhaul gambling taxation, a move leaders have branded an “existential threat” to the sport’s financial stability. At the heart of the dispute is a Treasury consultation on harmonising tax rates, which could eliminate the preferential 15% Gross Gambling Revenue (GGR) tax rate for sports betting and align it with the 21% rate applied to online slots and casino games.
With the consultation period closing on 21st July, the industry has launched the “#AxeTheRacingTax” campaign. It has garnered urgent support from across the sector, warning that the proposal could inflict annual losses of up to £160 million.
The government’s stated rationale for the proposal is tax simplification and creating “fair and consistent treatment” across all gambling verticals. However, the plan comes at a precarious moment for British racing. The industry is already navigating severe financial headwinds, including a reported £1.6 billion drop in online betting turnover in the last two years. This downturn is largely linked to the implementation of affordability checks mandated by the Gambling Commission.
These financial pressures are compounded by long-stalled reforms to the Horserace Betting Levy-a statutory mechanism that returns a portion of betting profits to the sport. The BHA and other stakeholders argue that this tax proposal represents a “triple whammy” of damaging policies that threaten racing’s future.
According to financial modelling commissioned by the BHA, aligning the tax rate to 21% would result in a £66 million annual loss to the sport through reduced Levy income, media rights deals, and sponsorship. If the rate were to climb higher, the impact would be more severe, with a potential loss of £160 million.
Brant Dunshea, Acting Chief Executive of the BHA, described the proposal as potentially “catastrophic for the sport,” highlighting that racing supports 85,000 jobs and contributes over £300 million to the exchequer annually.
The criticism is not limited to administrators. The Horseracing Bettors’ Forum (HBF) stated its members feel “insulted to see betting on the sport being lumped in with casinos and slots,” emphasising the fundamental difference between skill-based analysis and games of pure chance.
While horseracing is the immediate focus, the precedent of tax harmonisation has significant implications for the wider iGaming sector. The core argument of the campaign-that not all gambling products carry the same risk profile or require the same level of skill-is highly relevant to other verticals.
Should the Treasury proceed on the basis of simplifying tax codes without acknowledging product differences, operators in segments such as esports, daily fantasy sports, and other skill-based games could face similar challenges in the future. The outcome of this consultation is therefore being watched closely across the industry as a bellwether for future regulatory philosophy in the UK. With the 21st July deadline fast approaching, the pressure is mounting on the government to reconsider a move that the racing world believes could hobble a great British institution.
